'Garretson' American Persimmon

Garretson is a very cold hardy American persimmon cultivar prized for its early-ripening, high-quality fruit and reliable production. The deep-orange fruit is relatively large for an American persimmon, reaching about 1½ inches across, with few seeds and an exceptionally sweet, rich flavour once fully ripe and soft. Like other astringent persimmons, the fruit should be allowed to ripen completely before eating. Garretson is generally considered to produce larger, higher-quality fruit than its parent, Early Golden, and ripens about a week earlier, which is an important advantage in short-season and northern climates.

In addition to its cold hardiness, Garretson is also valued for its dependable crops and reported resistance to anthracnose. The tree produces predominantly female flowers that can produce seedless fruit without pollination. Garretson also makes an attractive landscape tree, growing over 40 ft tall, with foliage that develops striking orange-yellow colour in fall.

Our Garretson American persimmon trees are grafted onto American persimmon root stock.

Common names: Garretson American Persimmon, American Persimmon

Edible: Fruit
Harvest timing: Early-season (September - October)

Scientific name: Diospyros virginiana 'Garretson'
Light requirements: Full sun 
Full-grown size: 40-60' tall x 25-40' wide
Hardiness: Zone 4b
Pollination: Self-fruitful; predominantly female-flowering and capable of setting seedless fruit without pollination. May occasionally produce male flowers. Cross-pollination can increase fruit set and results in seeded fruit.
Wildlife: Flowers provide nectar for pollinators; fruit attracts birds, deer, raccoons, and other wildlife.
Origin: Species native to eastern and central North America. Cultivar is a seedling of Early Golden, collected in Pennsylvania, USA by J. C. McDaniel in the early 20th century. .
Noteworthy: Predominately female flowers, and relatively large fruit, on attractive trees that are exceptionally cold hardy.